Fence



Aug. 6, 1968 @BANSE FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 19, 1965 i-igi.

INVENTOP GEORGE BANSE eltts.

G. BANSE Aug. 6, 1968 FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1966 United States Patent Of'ice 3,395,489 FENCE George Balise, Sterling, Ill., assignor to National M anu facturing Co., Sterling, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 543,589 4 Claims. (Cl. 49-381) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A fence includes a series of spaced-apart posts and a pair of oppositely-disposed rails connected to adjacent posts for supporting a series or ornamental panels. Each of the rails comprises a channel-shaped member having a base and a pair of depending legs. The legs include a pair of inwardly 'bent anges for gripping and supporting the panels.

This invention relates to fences, and more particularly to fences of the type that may be prefabricated to facilitate installation.

A prefabricated fence of the type described, in addition to being easy to install, imust be weather resistant, sturdy, attractive, and easily adapted for a variety of styles. If such fence, however, is to be profitably produced by a manufacturer, the fence must lend itself to production-line factory method-s, and it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a iprefabricated fence of the type described which meets the requirements of both the user and the manufacturer as outlined above. u

The invention may be described briey as including three main components: vertical posts, ornamental panels or the like, and top and bottom rails that are attached between the posts and support the panels or the like.

Each of the top and bottom rails is identical, lbeing a metal U-shaped channel member with inturned'aiiges ori the free ends of the legs of the member for gripping and thus supporting the ornamental panels therebetween. The rails are similar in form to the trolley tracks provided to mount the trolleys on a sliding door, and are thus readily available and easily fabricated into modular lengths. The top and bottom rails are fastened between vertical posts so that the U-shaped channel of the top rail opens downwardly, and the U-shaped channel of the lower rail opens upwardly. Supported within the opposed openings of the channels and gripped between the inturned flanges on the legs of'the channels, can be any of a variety of vornamental panels, such as spaced flat boards, tongue-and-groove boards, corrugated lmetal or plastic, weatherproof hardboard, etc. Because the height of the fence depends upon the height `of the panels, and since the latter are slid into place, this basic construction permits a wide range of styles and designs to be developed using the same basic post and rail construction.

The more important features of this invention have thus been outlined rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will also form the subject of the claims appended thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basic for designing other structures for carrying out the several purposes of this invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims to be granted herein shall be `of sufficient breadth to prevent the appropriation of this invention by those skilled in the art,

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the basic components 3,395,489 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 of a fence constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the modular nature of the rails and illustrating various types of ornamental panels that may be supported by the rails;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a typical fence that may be constructed utilizing the basic components shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rail used in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating how a pair of rails can be attached to a vertical post.;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. l.

FIG. 6 is a View in elevation of the basic components of the invention applied to a double-gate for a fence;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of the basic components of the invention applied to a single gate for a fence;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 1 except a modified form of ornamental panel is shown mounted in the rails;

Referring now to FIG. l, reference numeral 10 designates a fence module constructed in accordance with the present invention. As indicated previously, the module has three basic components: posts 11,. which are preferably wood but could be metal, ornamental panels inclicated generally at 12, and metal rails 13. Since the nature of the rails is so important to the invention, reference is made to FIG. 3 which shows rail 13 as comprising an elongated U-shaped channel member with a base 14 and spaced depending legs 15 on opposite sides of the base. Legs 15 terminate at their free ends in opposed, inwardly turned flanges 16 .that have a first portion at right angles to the legs and a `second portion inclined towards base 14. As will be shown later, this second portion adds to the finished appearance of the rail and facilitates insertion of the panels. Flanges 16 .thus define an elongated slot 16 that is opposite to base 14 and runs the length of the rail. As can be seen from inspection, rail 13 is very similar to a trolley track for mounting a trolley used to support a sliding door. In fact, the preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a heavy gauge steel trolley rail that is approximate] 1% wide with legs about 2% long. Such rail is readily available in 16 gauge steel with a weight of about 1.73 pounds per lineal foot, and 14 gauge steel with a weight of about 2.05 pounds per lineal foot. This type of trolley rail is also available in many standard lengths from 4 feet to 2O feet, and because of its original intended use, is available with a japanned or hot galvanized finish that weatherproofs the steel and makes the rail ideally suited for fence construction. At the present time, ten feet appears to 'be the ideal modular length of rail, although the gauge of metal is such as to permit the user to cut the rail to size during installation.

The fence module shown in FIG. l requires two wooden posts, two rails, four mounting brackets and the desired type of ornamental panel. The wooden posts are preferably conventional 4" X 4" redwood. posts that are set into the ground or grouted in concrete 11 on centers spaced apart by the length of a rail plus the thickness of a post. Alternatively, the posts could be capped metallic tubes like that used in chain-link fence construction. In either event, the rails are attached at their axial ends between the posts as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. For this purpose, mounting brackets 17 are provided which, when wooden posts are used, are preferably the same type of bracket used to mount trolley track on a lintel over a doorway. Where round metal tubular posts are used, the bracket would be modified accordingly. In the present form, bracket 17 includes a flat post leg 18 that abuts post 11, and a ilat rail leg 19 that abuts the rail, the two 3 legs being interconnected by a triangular metal brace 20. As can be seen from FIG. 4, bracket 17 is formed `of a single sheet of metal by properly bending a blank.

Leg 18 of bracket 17 includes apertures through which lag screws, or the like, pass and securely attach the bracket to postill; and leg 19 includes a slotted aperture that extends in the direction of the leg and provides clearance for a machine or drive screw that serves to securely connect the base 14 of the rail to the bracket. because bracket 17 is the same as brackets used for mounting trolley tracks, it too is readily available, and is also provided with a weather-proof finish.

As shown best in FIG. 4, top rail 13' is attached to post 11 near to top thereof by means of a bracket 17 such that the opening 16' in the rail opens downwardly; and bottom rail 13 is attached to post 11 near the bottom thereof by means of a bracket 17 such that the opening 16 in the rail opens upwardly. The exact vertical spac ing between the rails depends on the type of fence and the size of the ornamental panels. Thus, the slots 16' in the top and bottom rails are aligned and face each other permitting the ornamental panels, designated generally at 12, to be supported by the rails as shown best in FIG. 5. The inwardly inclined free edges of flanges 16 facilitates insertion of the selected panel. Such panel can take many different forms depending on the imagination of the user, and the embodiments shown in the drawing are by way of example only. If a solid wooden fence is desired, tongue-and-groove boards 21 as shown in FIG. 1 can be used; on the other hand, if an open fence is desired, spaced at boards 22 could be used. As indicated previously, corrugated metal or plastic could be used, and weatherproof hardboard or perforated plywood 23 is also a possibility. In addition to these designs, conventional chainlink fencing can be incorporated between the rails, or

rod specially bent into the form shown in FIG. 9 could be used. Such rod simulates a metal picket fence and the panel used for this purpose can be prefabricated from round or square metal stock using arcuate or square bends as shown generally at 24 in FIG. 9. Panels of this nature can be furnished in modular lengths and widths, with various finishes if desired. To enhance the appearance of the finished fence, it is sometimes desirable to prevent longitudinal sliding movement of the panel 24 in slots 16 and to this end, the rails may be provided with holes 25 in base 14 adjacent the axial ends. The free ends of the rod are then fitted into these holes by bending the end loop slightly. Holes 25 in bottom rail 13" also serve to drain rain water from this rail.

Whichever type of panel is used, it is inserted, as indicated in FIG. 5, into opposite slots 16 in rails 13. The width of slot 16, in the preferred trolley rails described above is about 57s" to which is sufficient to accept ordinary 1 dressed lumber. Of course, rails having other dimensions could also be used, and the width of slot 16 actually represents the maximum thickness of panel material that can be accommodated. Thinner material can be used by adding strips at the top and bottom of the panels to provide thicker regions that could be wedged into slots 16. While the present invention contemplates frictionally holding the panels between flanges 16, 16 of the rails, it should be obvious that direct mechanical connections could be employed also, as by way of screws or nails or the like driven through the rails into the panels. Because the user has the choice of fastening the top and bottom rails to the posts at any relative elevation from the ground, the height of the fence is independent of the rails, and as a consequence, the rail components, except for their length, are the same regardless of the size or style of the fence.

Trolley track hardware also provides the means by which two or more short lengths of rail can be connected to form a longer rail. U-shaped clips 30, of the same general cross-sectional configuration as the rails, but large enough to be slideably engageable over the rails, can be used as indicated in FIG. 1. Self-tapping screws or the 4! l like may be used to rigidly connect a clip 30 to a rail 13.

In view of the above, it can now be appreciated that all of the components of the fence of the present invention, are fashioned from standard parts; the posts are standard fence posts; the rails are standard trolley tracks; the brackets for mounting the rails on the posts are standard trolley track brackets; and the clips for lengthening rails are standard clips used with trolley rails. Furthermore, the ornamental panels need not'be accurately cut exactly to proper length since the top and bottom portions of the panels are enclosed by the rail and any variation in panel height is concealed* All of these factors make manufacture and assembly of the fence relatively inexpensive and relatively simple.

The basic rail conguration, namely the U-shaped channel, is also conducive to fabricating gates as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the double driveway gate 40v of FIG. 6, the left-half 41 and right-half 42 of the gate are identical, each being in the form of a rectangular frame formed by beveling the ends of suitable lengths of rail and connecting the lengths with right angle brackets 43 that are bolted to the rails. Thus, the gates can be assembled from pieces of rail cut to proper length at the factory, and sent to the site with brackets 43 to permit the user to assemble the rails and insert panel 12. While flat boards 22 are shown as the panel, this is of course merely illustrative of the many possible types of panels that are possible. The cross-section of the rail contributes to the strength and rigidity of the gate, and when assembled, the panel further contributes to the strength. Strap hinges `44 would, of course, be provided by the manufacturer, as would hook bolts 45 to pivotally mount the gatehalves on posts 11. `In addition, cane bolts 46 would be provided for maintaining the gates in the selected open or closed position. A gate latch (not shown) could also be provided by the manufacturer.

In the case of walk gate 50, the frame construction is the same as previously described in connection with gate 40, brackets'43 again being used to assemble the gate. While this gate could employ the same type of hinge construction as used with the driveway gate, this gate is smaller and lighter and it is preferred to use the pin-type construction 51. In addition, a conventional gate latch 52 can be used. i

A plan view of a fence constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed in this application; and including gates, is shown in FIG. 2. The simplicity of construction is demonstrated by this showing. Those skilled in the art can now appreciate that the present invention provides a way to prefabricate fences that are sturdy since the rails are metallic, easy to erect since only three basic components are required, and that are weather resistant since the rails are weather-proofed metal and the panels are free to expand or vshrink without affecting the longitudinal connections between the rails and the posts or between the panels and the rails. Furthermore, a fence constructed in accordance with this invention is relatively inexpensive because the main component may be a standard trolley rail and because the same basic components are used regardless of the size and style of the fence.

While this disclosure shows and describes in detail a presently preferred embodiment of a fence, it is obvious that modifications of this device will occur to others working in the art. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited only to the particular embodiment shown and described, but by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fence comprising posts spaced along a predetermined line, ornamental panels for aixing to the spaced posts along said predetermined line, eachv of said ornamental panels including oppositely arranged inverted U- shaped rails including leg portions `and oppositely positioned inturned L-shaped portions, ornamental panel members, said ornamental panel members being mounted between the inturned L-shaped portions of the oppositely arranged inverted U-shaped rails and being gripped by said inturned portions to support said panel in an upright position away from said leg portions, and bracket means aixed to the ends of the oppositely arranged inverted U-shaped rails for afixing the ornamental panels of the fence to the spaced posts, said `fence further comprising a gate, said gate including hinge means operatively connecting said gate to a contiguous post of the fence, said gate including a framework including oppositely horizontally arranged inverted Ushaped rails including leg portions in oppositely positioned inturned L-shaped portions, oppositely and vertically arranged inverted U-shaped rails, land an ornamental panel detachably mounted between the inturned L-shaped portions and gripped by said inturned portions.

2. A fence as set forth in claim 1, wherein said orna- -mental panel comprises plywood provided with an ornamental design of openings through the plywood in a predetermined arrangement.

3. A fence as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ornamental panel comprises a corrugated panel mounted between the oppositely inverted U-shaped panels.

4. A fence as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower one of said rails is provided with longitudinally spaced drain holes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,459 1/ 1909 Craig 256-21 1,331,836 2/1920 Wilbanks 49-386 X 1,672,525 6/ 1928 Gwisdalla 49--396 X 2,771,276 11/ 1956 Constance et al 256--22 1,776,785 9/ 1930 Davidson. 2,855,037 10/1958 Stiffel 160-135 2,873,094 4/1959 -Blum 256-31 3,300,900 1/1967 .Risk et al. 49-381 3,304,683 2/ 1967 Ferreira 256--24 X FOREIGN PATENTS 620,573 11/ 1962 Belgium. 302,687 I10/ 1965 Netherland.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

